Antigua is an island of Bible-loving people. One can engage almost anybody in a discussion on religion. Taxi drivers, shop keepers, neighbors will all readily talk about our work here without embarrassment and will always wish us well.
Since our arrival here from Melbourne, Australia last April for a six-month stay, we have been enabled, by God’s help, to hold regular instruction classes in our own apartment twice a week. The group is a fairly small but loyal number of interested friends.
Following the baptism of Juliana, who for three years had been acquainted with visiting campaigners, the ecclesia in St. John’s numbers five plus the two of us. The work is mostly pastoral with the occasional special lecture held to attract more contacts. We also endeavor to involve the local members in the active spreading of the word.
Like all mission work, there are the inevitable ups and downs, including occasional feelings of loneliness and inadequacy. The welcome overseas visitors are always a most refreshing and restoring change. Overall, however, the work is rewarding.
Antigua is always warm and there are lovely beaches beckoning when spare time allows a relaxing swim. We are glad for the occasional rain shower and the cooling breezes.
Our apartment is brand new and very comfortable. It is quite strategically placed for our scope of operation. We are very close to the Moravian Hall where we hold our Sunday meetings and we are within easy walking distance of a bakery and supermarket.
As pensioners we find that, with care, we can live within our budget and buy the kind of food we are used to. The budget does not permit the frequent use of a rented car, however, and we travel into town mostly by local minibus, which is very cheap and regular transport. For transport on mission work, we rent a car from our landlord at a reduced rate about twice a week. For this, we largely rely on CBM funds, which also cover our preaching expenses.
On the whole, everything works out well. But we are deeply concerned about who will take over when we depart on October 1, 1996. The little flock in St. John’s and those friends who attend our classes still need shepherding. In January, 1997, another retired couple are due to arrive from Australia for three months, but who will help in the meantime?
Is there any couple reading this report who is willing to give a few weeks of their time in this valuable work? Must we reluctantly relinquish this comfortable and convenient apartment? Is it possible to organize several shorter-stay visits of two or three weeks?
We all like to go on vacation once or perhaps twice a year. Why not combine it with mission work here in Antigua? It may be possible to keep the apartment fully paid up until January next year. This would mean less expense for those staying if that would be helpful.
One thing is guaranteed, whatever the sacrifice, the experience will be unforgettable. “Who will go for us?”
Please contact us at P.O. Box 2486 St. John’s, Antigua if you are able to help (809)463-9755.
Local contacts who can help are: Bro. Clive Solomon, Jamaica Ecclesia, NY (718)881-1126.
Bro. Philip Basten, Sale Ecclesia, UK 161 962 0716.
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